Quercus alba tree named ‘QAMTF’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Quercus alba tree named ‘QAMTF’ is disclosed, characterized by a unique, upright, fastigiate structure with a central leader. Foliage is deeply lobed and colored deep green a somewhat blue hue. Trees have shown suitability for commercial digging and transplanting. The new variety is a Quercus tree, typically used for landscapes and gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Quercus alba.

Variety denomination: ‘QAMTF’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety was discovered growing as a seedling among a group ofopen-pollinated Quercus alba trees at a tree farm in Washington, Ga. Asingle seedling tree was observed which had a more upright andfastigiate habit than the other seedlings among this group. The inventormade this discovery during 2012. The exact seed and pollen parentscannot be identified.

Asexual reproduction by grafting of the new cultivar ‘QAMTF’ was firstperformed during Winter of 2014 at a farm in Washington, Ga. The cleftgrafting system developed by the inventor has resulted in progeny thathave proven the characteristics of the new variety to be geneticallystable. This grafting process involved taking cuttings in February,being grafted, and being placed in calloused chambers for approximatelythree weeks. They are then moved into 3″×6″ tree band pots and placed inhumidity chambers for approximately four weeks. Furthermore, theseobservations have confirmed that the new variety represents a new andimproved variety of Quercus alba tree as particularly evidenced by thefastigiate growth habit. These genetic traits can be consistentlyreproduced by asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘QAMTF’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘QAMTF’ grown in Washington, Ga. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘QAMTF’ as a new and distinctQuercus alba cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright branching.    -   2. Fastigiate structure.    -   3. Central leader.    -   4. Deeply lobed leaf with a somewhat blue hue.    -   5. Suitability for commercial digging and transplanting.

PARENT COMPARISON

The parents cannot be identified.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The cultivar ‘QAMTF’ can be compared to Quercus alba ‘Repanda Michx’,not patented. The varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics. The new variety, however differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a much narrower canopy, with a central        leader not consistently found in this comparator.    -   2. Foliage of the new variety is more deeply lobed and darker        than foliage of this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates a typical tree of thenew variety at about 3 years of age.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the trunk.

FIG. 3 illustrates typical foliage of the new variety.

FIG. 4 illustrates Fall foliage color of ‘QAMTF’. The tree in FIG. 4 isapproximately 4 years old.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘QAMTF’ plants grown outdoors and in a nurseryin Washington, Ga. Plants are approximately 2 years old, fieldgrown.Temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 10° C. at night to 18° C. to 37° C.during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Quercus alba ‘QAMTF’.

PROPAGATION

-   Cleft grafting.-   Root description: Woody. Brown roots not accurately measured with an    R.H.S. Colour chart.

TREE

-   Growth habit: Deciduous fastigiate tree.-   Height: Approximately 18 feet at 4 to 5 years. Approximately 22 feet    at 10 years.-   Spread: Approximately 5 feet at 4 years.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branch characteristics:    -   -   Length.—Average Range 50 to 75 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average 2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 194A flushed Greyed-Purple            183C.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Angle.—Acute, 45° or less.        -   Aspect.—Straight.-   Trunk characteristics:    -   -   Diameter.—About 3 inches measured at approximately 3 inches            above soil level at 4 years.        -   Color.—Bark near RHS Greyed-Green 196D with blotches near            Greyed-Green 195C. Under bark colored near Greyed-Orange            165D.        -   Surface texture.—Rough bark, weakly to moderately peeling

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Overall ovate, deeply lobed, 7 to 9 lobes.        -   Average length.—Approximately 12 to 14 cm excluding petiole.        -   Average width.—Approximately 6 to 8 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse or asymmetrical cordate.        -   Margin.—Deeply lobed with sharp tips at the apex of each            lobe. Sinuses about 1.5 to 2.2 cm deep.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of lower surface.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Young foliage: Upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Under            side: Near RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage: Upper side: Near            RHS Green 139A with overlay Green 131A. Under side: Near RHS            Green 139A. Fall foliage: Upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Orange            175C completely overlayed with Greyed-Red 181A, faint tinges            of Greyed-Purple 185A present on oldest Fall leaves. Under            side: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 175C overlayed with Greyed-Red            181A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Color: Venation color upper side:            Near RHS Yellow-Green N144B. Venation color under side: Near            RHS Yellow-Green N144B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average 22 mm. Diameter: Average 2 mm.            Color: Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144A. Under side:            Near RHS Yellow-Green N144A.-   Stipule:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, occurring in pairs.        -   Shape.—Oblong to kidney-shaped.        -   Average length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Apex.—Rounded        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of lower surface.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Transparent Yellow-Green N144B with veins near Green            137B.

FLOWER

-   Flowering begins: Around early Spring in Georgia, generally around    the time of foliage emergence. Individual male and female catkins.-   Male catkins: About 5 cm to 10 cm long, about 7 to 12 mm wide.    Weeping. Colored near RHS Yellow-Green 151A, turning Yellow-Green    154C flushed Greyed-Red 183A.-   Female catkins: Semi-erect, About 2 cm long and approximately 4 mm    wide. Colored near Yellow-Green 154D turning Greyed-Red 183A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Acorn:    -   -   Length.—Average about 1.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average about 1 cm.        -   Cup coverage.—About 20%.        -   Immature color.—Nut near Yellow-Green 144C flushed N144A.            Cup Yellow-Green 146D flushed Grey-Brown 199B.        -   Petiole.—About 1 cm long, 2 mm in diameter. Colored near            Grey-Brown N199A. Glabrous.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Quercus has been observed.-   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought observed. Quercus alba    can be moderately drought tolerance once established.-   Temperature tolerance: USDA Zones 3 through 9.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Quercus alba treenamed ‘QAMTF’ as herein illustrated and described.